NEW DELHI: Learning from the Silkyara tunnel collapsethe road ministry will review the standard operating procedures (SOPs) that need to be followed during construction and maintenance of tunnels across the country. The government is also looking at taking more measures to prevent such mishaps.
Union road transport and highways secretary, Anurag Jain told TOI, “We will review the SOP for safety requirements that need to be followed during construction and operation to avoid any mishap.We will also be reviewing theprovisions of contract management for tunnels to include risk matrix taking into consideration the geological conditions.”
Sources said a robust mechanism for safety audit will also be the part of the SOP, which will be prepared by a panel of experts. They will look at all issues, including the need of having a provision of some safe escape passage for workers during construction, particularly in the fragile Himalayan regions. In Silkyara, a steel pipe was inserted to evacuate the workers and such a provision would require hardly a fraction of the overall project cost.
Officials said there will also be renewed focus on geological mapping of the Himalayan regions, considering that several infrastructure projects are under construction and have been planned across this region.
Sharing details of one of the longest rescue operations, Jain said, “For us, the focus was to take them out safely and we stayed at the site till the rescue was over.” He highlighted how Union minister General VK Singh, former advisor to PM Bhaskar Khulbe and top officials from the NHIDCL and Uttarakhand government remained there during the entire operation. “It was closely monitored by the principal secretary to the PM and cabinet secretary, and there was full support from the PM,” he said, while adding that Uttarakhand chief minister Puskar Singh Dhami’s support for handling local issues and pressures was also key in the successful operation.
“The entire team comprising top functionaries from PSUs such as SJVNL, RVNL, THDC, ONGC, Indian Army, BRO, Airforce, NDRF, SDRF and experts worked as a well-oiled machinery while taking decisions and executing them. It was one-of-its-kind exercise,” said Jain.
Sources said the Centre will soon set up a panel of experts to probe the reasons for the collapse and how to restart work on the tunnel after fixing the caved-in portion.
Union road transport and highways secretary, Anurag Jain told TOI, “We will review the SOP for safety requirements that need to be followed during construction and operation to avoid any mishap.We will also be reviewing theprovisions of contract management for tunnels to include risk matrix taking into consideration the geological conditions.”
Sources said a robust mechanism for safety audit will also be the part of the SOP, which will be prepared by a panel of experts. They will look at all issues, including the need of having a provision of some safe escape passage for workers during construction, particularly in the fragile Himalayan regions. In Silkyara, a steel pipe was inserted to evacuate the workers and such a provision would require hardly a fraction of the overall project cost.
Officials said there will also be renewed focus on geological mapping of the Himalayan regions, considering that several infrastructure projects are under construction and have been planned across this region.
Sharing details of one of the longest rescue operations, Jain said, “For us, the focus was to take them out safely and we stayed at the site till the rescue was over.” He highlighted how Union minister General VK Singh, former advisor to PM Bhaskar Khulbe and top officials from the NHIDCL and Uttarakhand government remained there during the entire operation. “It was closely monitored by the principal secretary to the PM and cabinet secretary, and there was full support from the PM,” he said, while adding that Uttarakhand chief minister Puskar Singh Dhami’s support for handling local issues and pressures was also key in the successful operation.
“The entire team comprising top functionaries from PSUs such as SJVNL, RVNL, THDC, ONGC, Indian Army, BRO, Airforce, NDRF, SDRF and experts worked as a well-oiled machinery while taking decisions and executing them. It was one-of-its-kind exercise,” said Jain.
Sources said the Centre will soon set up a panel of experts to probe the reasons for the collapse and how to restart work on the tunnel after fixing the caved-in portion.